Rosallion is already the highest rated horse in the world over 1600m on turf – and his trainer and jockey believe the best is yet to come.

Trainer Richard Hannon should know because he has trained 12 Group 1 winning horses. Rosallion’s triumphs in three Group 1s, most recently the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot have put the three-year-old at the top of the tree.

Hannon said, “Like Canford Cliffs, he does everything easily at home and works really well. We’ve had some very, very good horses but he’s always been a bit special. He might even be better than them. I’d like to think he’ll continue to improve.”

Canford Cliffs, trained by Richard Hannon’s father Richard Hannon senior, was a multiple Group 1 winner who won the G1 Sussex Stakes in 2010, a feat Rosallion is favourite to match on Wednesday (31 July).

The reason both trainer and regular jockey Sean Levey believe we have not yet seen Rosallion’s best is that, for a horse that tends to take a keen hold, the lack of a strong pace in his races this season has been against him.

After winning narrowly at Royal Ascot, Levey said, “He had to be good today and boy was he good! He travelled so well and he picked up strongly.” Significantly, Levey added, “I’m hoping one day they go a really good gallop and he gets to show his true potential.”

Hannon remarked, “is style of running, the way he cuts them down late, means he takes risks. He travelled great at Royal Ascot and picked up on a horse who had first run on him. We might ride him a little closer to the pace at Goodwood but that’s up to Sean.”

Connections will be hoping that the small field does not translate into a slow pace.  

The horse that got first run at Ascot, Henry Longfellow, is again a leading contender. Trainer Aidan O’Brien said, “It was a massive run at Ascot. We were very happy with him and learned a lot. We’ve always thought he was a very special horse and we’re looking forward to the race. We think there’s more to come.”

Henry Longfellow is beautifully bred with a pedigree suggesting that he may prove best at further than 1600m. O’Brien said, “It’s possible that we’ll step him up in trip later but he has loads of speed.”

At Ascot, Rosallion and Henry Longfellow finished a long way in front of Notable Speech, who started the race as favourite. That was because Godolphin’s representative was previously unbeaten and had defeated Rosallion in the G1 2000 Guineas in May.

Trainer Charlie Appleby has found no explanation for Notable Speech’s disappointing display. He said, “We’ll probably never get to the bottom of it. We’ve just got to put a line through it. He has pleased us in his work since and we’re looking forward to the Sussex. Goodwood is a track that we feel will suit him and all his form before Ascot is rock solid.”